Cosmetic dispenser



Filed 001;. 4, 1963 FIG.

A Tram/5y United States Patent 3,212,120 COSMETIC DISPENSER Charles J.Gentile, 511 Seven Oaks Road, Orange, NJ. Filed Oct. 4, 1963, Ser. No.314,004 2 Claims. (Cl. 15558) My invention relates to dispensersgenerally and specifically to a propel-repel type cosmetic dispenser inwhich the cosmetic material is positively expelled from a supplycartridge onto the bottom of a rotatable applicator ball.

A large number of cosmetic dispensers have been developed in which thecosmetic material contained within a generally cylindrical cartridge isforcibly both expelled from and thereafter retracted into the cartridgeby means of an axially movable piston. In the past, these cartridgeshave been applicable only to solid or semi-solid cosmetic material. Myinvention contemplates the application of the basic propel-repel conceptto the dispensing of liquid cosmetic material such as deodorant formulasby means of a rotatable applicator ball.

Another aspect of my invention lies in a novel structural adaptation ofthe propel-repel mechanism for dispensers which is more simple to bothfabricate and assemble. Known propel-repel mechanisms are so constructedthat the piston must be screwed downwardly the entire length of thesupply cartridge during assembly. This procedure requires an inordinateamount of both labor and time.

Therefore, it is among the objects and advantages of my invention toprovide a cosmetic dispenser in which a liquid or fluidized solidcosmetic material is dispensed by a rotatable applicator ball.

Another object of my invention is to provide a cosmetic dispenser inwhich the cosmetic material is forcibly fed from a supply cartridge tothe bottom of an applicator ball by means of a piston axially movable inthe cartridge in general opposition to the applicator ball.

A further object of my invention is to provide a cosmetic dispenser inwhich the bottom of the supply cartridge is both closed and sealedagainst leakage of the cosmetic material by a rotatable turning knobwhich is in turn operably connected to a threaded transport extendingaxially through the supply cartridge.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a cosmetic dispenserin which the cosmetic material is propelled in the direction of anapplicator ball by a piston, axially movable in a supply cartridge andthreadably engaged to a rotatable transport.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a cosmetic dispenser,in which the transport shaft is bifurcated at at least one end tofacilitate passage through and positive engagement in a cooperativeopening.

Still yet another object of my invention is to provide a cosmeticdispenser in which the piston may first be threadably engaged to one endof the transport, the piston with the transport engaged thereto theninserted into the supply cartridge and the turning knob thereafterengaged to both the bottom of the supply cartridge and the end of thetransport without further rotation of the transport.

Yet a further object of my invention is to provide a cosmetic dispenserin which a supply cartridge, a ball dispenser assembly, a threadedtransport and a turning knob are mutually interconnected to producerotation of the transport upon rotation of either the ball assembly orthe turning knob with respect to the supply cartridge.

Another object of my invention is to provide a cosmetic dispenseremploying a threaded transport at least one end of which is providedwith a truncated, bifurcated tip defining a pair of resilient, inwardlydefiectable arms and an abutment seat adapted to facilitate mounting ofthe end of the transport in an opening.

These objects and advantages as well as other objects and advantages maybe achieved by my invention two embodiments of which are illustrated inthe drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational, cross-sectional view of one embodimentof my invention having a transport turning knob rotatably mounted on thebottom of a cylindrical cosmetic material supply cartridge;

FIGURE 2 is a top cross-sectional view taken along line 22 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational, cross-sectional view of anotherembodiment of my invention in which rotation of a threaded transport isproduced by rotation of a supply cartridge with respect to -a balldispensing assembly;

FIGURE 4 is a top cross-sectional View taken along line 44 in FIGURE 3.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and specifically referring toFIGURES 1 and 2, my cosmetic dispenser comprises a generally cylindricalcosmetic material supply case or cartridge 11. While the cartridge 11 isshown in FIGURES 1 and 2 as having a generally circular crosssectionalconfiguration, it may optionally have an eliptical or any other suitablecross-sectional configuration. The bottom of the cartridge 11 is openand is provided with an annular, external recess or undercut portion 12.An an nular external rib 13 is provided intermediate the ends of theundercut portion 12. The bottom rim 14 of the undercut portion 12 isfinished to present a generally domeshaped configuration. However, anyother configuration may be employed which is adapted to form a seal witha cooperative groove in a complementary element.

The opposite end of the cartridge 11 is also open and is provided withan annular internally concave, resilient mounting collar 15 for arotatable ball applicator 16. The collar 15 may assume any one of anumber of well-known configurations and may define a plurality ofinternally concave resilient mounting legs 17.

The external surface of the cartridge 11 immediately beneath the collar15 may be provided with a suitable thread-form 18 adapted to threadablyengage an internal thread-form on a closure cap 19 which may be employedto cover the applicator ball 16.

The cartridge 11 defines an internal, generally cylindrical cosmeticmaterial supply cavity 20. A pair of internal, generally parallel guideribs 21, 21 are formed on the cartridge 11 within the cavity 20generally parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof. A threaded,transport screw 22 is mounted generally axially within the chamber 20. Atransport piston 23 is threadably engaged to the transport screw 22 andis adapted to move on the said transport screw 22 axially with respectthereto and the cartridge 11. The piston 23 is provided with a pair ofgrooves 24, 24 complementary to and adapted to co operatively andslidably engage the ribs 21, 21 on the cartridge 11. The piston 23 istherefore unable to rotate with the transport, rather, with rotation ofthe transport screw 22, the piston moves axially with respect theretoand the cartridge 11.

The bottom end of the transport screw 22 is provided with a generallysquare shank 25. The width of the shank 25 is less than the major pitchdiameter or crest diameter of the threads on the transport screw 22. Theend of the shank 25 opposite the threads 26 is provided with a generallytruncated pyramidal tip 27 defining an external peripheral shoulder 28having a diameter greater than the diameter of the shank 25. Of course,the tip 27 may also have a generally truncated conical shape as well asa truncated pyramidal shape. A transverse slot 29 extends from the endof the tip 27 therethrough into the shank 25 bifurcating the end of thetransport screw 22 and defining a pair of resilient, inwardlydeflectable arms 30, 30.

A turning knob 31 is keyed to the shank 25 of the screw 22 for rotationtherewith and is rotatably mounted to the undercut portion 12 of thecartridge 11. The turning knob 31 is provided with a generally round,bottom portion 32 having formed integrally therewith a perpendicular,annular flange 33. The internal surface of the flange 33 is providedwith an internal, annular groove 34 complementary to and adapted toengage the external, annular rim 13 on the recessed portion 12 of thecartridge 11. The bottom portion 32 of the knob 31 at the base of theannular flange 33 is provided with an annular internal groove 35complementary to and adapted to engage the rim 14 on the bottom of therecessed portion 12 of the cartridge 11. The upstanding annular flange33 and the bottom portion 31 is fabricated of a resilient material suchas polyethylene so that the knob 31 may be snapped over the rib 13,thereby mounting the bottom 31 rotatably upon the cartridge 11. Thebottom 31 is also provided with an axial, generally square transversepassage 36 dimensioned to snugly receive the shank 25. The shank 25 isapproximately as long as the knob 31 is thick at the opening 36.

In operation, the piston 23 is threadably engaged to the threadedtransport screw 22 at its bottom adjacent to the shank 25. The bottom 31is then snap-engaged to the screw 22. This engagement is accomplished byforcing the screw 22 downwardly against the opening 36 in the knob 31.The generally truncated pyramidal or conical tip 27 engages the opening36. The diameter of the bottom-most or smallest end of the tip 27 shouldbe slightly less than the diameter of the opening 36 so that it fitstherein. Downward pressure against the screw 22 causes the arms 30, 30to deflect inwardly closing the slot 29. This action is facilitated bythe cam action of the truncated pyramidal or conical shape of the tip27. The thickness of the slot 29 is dimensioned to permit the entire tip27 to pass through the opening 36 when the legs 30, 30 are suflicientlydeflected inwardly. After the tip 27 passes through the opening 36, thenormal resilience of the arms 30, 30 cause them to snap outwardly sothat the surface 28 engages the bottom 32 of the knob 31, therebypositively retaining the screw 22 in engagement therewith. For thepurpose of this application and its claims, I define this type offastening means as snap-engaging means.

The knob 31 with the transport screw 22 mounted thereon for rotationtherewith, is then snap-engaged to the cartridge 11. The complementaryrib 13 in groove 34 and rim 14 in groove 35 provide a sealed yetrotatable engagement between the knob 31 and the cartridge 11. When soassembled, the piston 32 is in the lowermost position and the cartridge11 may then be filled with cosmetic material through the opposite end.When filled with a cosmetic material, the opposite end of the cartridge11 may be closed by insertion of the ball applicator 16 Rotation of theknob 31 causes the transport screw 22 to rotate with it. Rotation of thescrew 22 in turn causes the piston 23 to move axially upwardly ordownwardly thereon. As the piston 23 moves upwardly, cosmetic materialin the cartridge 11 is forced upwardly against the bottom of theapplicator ball 16. As the applicator ball 16 rotates, cosmetic materialadhering to the bottom thereof is carried to the body while additionalcosmetic material passes from the cartridge 11 onto the bottom of theapplicator ball 16.

A second embodiment of my invention is illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4.The dispenser, as illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4, comprises a generallycylindrical case or cartridge 37 having an integral bottom 38. As in theembodiment of my invention illustrated in FIG- URES l and 2, thecartridge 37 may have a circular, elliptical or any other suitablecross-sectional configuration. The cartridge 37 defines a cosmeticmaterial supply chamber or cavity 39. The end of the cartridge 37opposite the bottom 38 is open and is rotatably connected to a balldispenser assembly 40.

The ball dispenser assembly 40 comprises a generally annular base 41having formed thereon an upstanding annular flange 42. Formed integrallywith the top of the flange 42 are a plurality of internally arcuate ballretainer fingers 43 which rotatably mount a dispensing ball 44therebetween. The annular base 41 is provided with a plurality ofradial, inwardly disposed legs 45. The inwardly extending ends of thelegs 45 are formed integrally with a mounting ring 46. There is thusdefined a plurality of generally wedge-shaped openings or sectors 47between the legs 45 to permit passage of the cosmetic material from thecavity 39 upwardly to the ball 44.

A downwardly extending annular flange 48 is formed integrally with thebase 41 of the ball assembly 40. The external, vertical surface of theflange 48 is provided with an annular rib 49 adapted to seat within acomplementary groove 50 in the internal face of the cavity 39 at the topof the cartridge 37. The external surface of the flange 42 formed on thetop of the base 41 is provided with a generally helical thread-form 51to threadably receive a cap 52 which fits over the ball dispensingassembly 40. The external surface of the cartridge 37 at its open top isprovided with an annular recess 53 adapted to receive the lowermostport-ion of the cap 52 thus forming a smooth, continuous surface withthe cartridge 37.

A threaded transport 54 is mounted between the ring 46 in the balldispensing assembly 40 and the bottom 38 of the cartridge 37. The top ofthe transport 54 is provided with -a generally square shank 55 whichrotatably mounts within a square opening in the ring 46. The end of thetransport 54 is provided with a generally truncated, pyramidal tip 56having an abutment surface 57 adapted to extend radially outwardly overthe top of the ring 46. The end of the transport 54, mounted within thering 46, is bifurcated having been provided with a transverse, verticalslot 58 extending from the truncated, conical tip 56 downwardly into thethreaded portion of the transport 54.

The opposite end of the transport 54 is provided with a cylindricalshank 59. The shank 59 is mounted within a circular opening 60 in thebottom 38 of the cartridge 37. The end of the shank 59 opposite thethreads is provided with a generally truncated, pyramidal tip 61defining an annular abutment surface 62 underlying .a portion of thebottom 38 of the cartridge 37 immediately adjacent to the opening 60.This end of the transport 54 is also bifurcated having a transverse slot63 extending from the bottom of the top 61 upwardly into the threadedportion.

A piston 64 is threadably engaged to the transport 54 within the cavity39. The piston 64 is provided with a pair of vertical, opposed grooves65, 65 which are adapted to slidably receive a pair of complementaryrails 66, 66 extending generally vertically upwardly along the internalsurface of the cavity 39 in the cartridge 37.

In operation, rotation of the cartridge 37 with respect to the balldispensing assembly 40 produces rotation of the transport shaft 54 sincethe square shank 55 is keyed to the square opening in the ring 46 of theball dispensing assembly 40. In contrast, the round shank 59 on theopposite end of the transport 54 is rotatably mounted within the squareopening 60.

During assembly, the piston 64 is first threadably engaged to the bottomof the transport 54. This requires but a few revolutions of the piston64. The transport 54 with the piston 64 threadably engaged thereto atits bottom is then inserted through the open top end of the cartridge37. The conical tip- 61 is pressed against the round opening 60 in thebottom 38 of the cartridge 37. The diameter of the tip 61 at itsbottom-most end is dimensioned slightly smaller than the diameter of theopening 60 to produce a cam effect as the tip 61 is forced into theopening 60. Since the tip 61, the shank 59 and the end of the transport54 adjacent thereto are bifurcated, having been provided with thetransverse slot 63, the tip 61 deflects inwardly closing the slot 63 andpermitting the wider portions of the tip to pass through the opening 60.When the tip 61 has completely passed through the opening 60, itsbifurcated end snaps outwardly under the norrnal resilience of thematerial from which it is fabricated. The shoulder 62 engages the bottom38 peripherally to the opening 60 thereby positively retaining thetransport 54 therein. In a similar manner, the ball dispensing assembly40 is forced downwardly over the tip 56 on the opposite end of thetransport 54. Again, since the top-most portion of the tip 56 has adiameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the opening in the ring46, the cam action deflects the bifurcated tip 56 inwardly to permit itto pass through the ring 46. When the tip 56 has completely passedthrough the ring 46, it expands outwardly under its normal resilience sothat the annular shoulder 57 engages the top of the ring 46. Thus, thetransport 54 is keyed to and positively retained in the ring 46. Ofcourse, the ball dispensing assembly 40 is dimensioned with respect tothe cartridge 37 and the transport 54, that the end-s of the transportseat within the openings 46 and 60 when the assembly 40 is engaged tothe top of the cartridge 37.

As the cartridge 37 and the ball dispensing assembly 40 rotate withrespect to each other, the transport 54 also rotates. Since the piston64 threadably engaged to the transport 54 is held against rotationtherewith by means of the engagement of the grooves 65, 65 in its sidewith the rails 66, 66 on the internal surface of the cartridge 37, thepiston 64 will rise and fall within the cavity 39 depending upon thedirection of relative rotation between the cartridge 37 and the balldispensing assembly 40. As the piston 64 rises, cosmetic material withinthe cavity 39 thereabove, is forced through the sectoral openingsdefined by the radial legs 45 in the ball dispensing assembly 40. Thus,cosmetic material is force-fed to the bottom of the ball 44.

The foregoing description is merely intended to illustrate an embodimentof the invention. The component parts have been shown and described.They each may have substitutes which may perform a substantially similarfunction; such substitutes may be known as proper substitutes for thesaid components and may have actually been known or invented before thepresent invention; these substitutes are contemplated as being withinthe scope of the appended claims, although they are not specificaliycatalogued herein.

I claim:

1. A cosmetic dispenser comprising:

(a) a hollow cartridge defining a supply chamber open at both ends,

(b) the supply chamber having a uniform crosssectional configuration anddimension along its longitudinal axis,

(c) a closure on each open end of the cartridge, one

closure being rotatably mounted to the cartridge,

(d) a transport positioned within the supply chamber,

(e) a polygonal shank on an end of the transport,

(f) the rotatable closure having a transverse polygonal opening shapedto conform to the said shank and dimensioned to receive and seat theshank therein,

(g) a generally truncated, bifurcated tip on the end of said polygonalshank, the tip being resiliently compressible for passage through thesaid opening in the rotatable closure and resiliently expandable afterpassage therethrough to positively secure the transport againstdisengagement from the closure,

(h) a piston rotatably mounted on the transport, the piston having apassage dimensioned to pass the said tip on the polygonal shank of thetransport,

(i) the said polygonal shank and tip fixedly connecting the transport tothe rotatably mounted closure for rotation therewith,

(j) the piston when mounted on the transport and connected to the saidrotatable closure being shaped and dimensioned to pass through the endof the cartridge to which said closure is rotatably mounted,

(k) cooperative means on the piston and within the supply chambersecuring the piston to the cartridge for rotation therewith, the pistonmoving longitudinally with the supply chamber upon rotation of thetransport with respect to the cartridge,

(1) a ball dispenser mounted on one end of the cartridge, the balldispenser defining one of the aforesaid closures, and

(In) passage means communicating between the supply chamber and the balldispenser.

2. A cosmetic dispenser comprising:

(a) a hollow cartridge defining a supply chamber open at both ends,

(b) the supply chamber having a uniform crosssectional configuration anddimension along its longitudinal axis,

(c) a bottom on one end of the cartridge,

((1) a ball dispenser assembly rotatably mounted to the opposite end ofthe cartridge,

(e) a transport positioned within the supply chamber,

(f) a polygonal shank on an end of the transport,

(g) the rotatable ball dispensing assembly having a transverse polygonalopening shaped and dimensioned to receive and seat the said polygonalshank therein,

(h) a generally truncated, bifurcated tip on the end of the saidpolygonal shank, the tip being resiliently compressible for passagethrough the said opening in the rotatable closure and resilientlyexpandable after passage therethrough to positively secure the transportagainst disengagement from the ball dispenser assembly,

(i) the transport being fixedly and positively connected to the balldispenser assembly for rotation therewith,

(j) a cylindrical shank on the opposite end of the transport,

(k) the bottom having a circular transverse opening dimensioned toreceive the said cylindrical shank, (l) a generally truncated,bifurcated tip on the end of said cylindrical shank, the tip beingresiliently compressible for passage through the said circular openingin the bottom and resiliently expandable after passage therethrough topositively secure the transport against disengagement from the bottom,

(m) the transport being rotatably and positively connected to the bottomof the cartridge,

(11) a piston rotatably mounted on the transport, the piston having apassage dimensioned to pass the tip on the end of the cylindrical shankof the transport therethrough,

(o) the piston when mounted on the transport adjacent to the cylindricalshank on the end of the transport being shaped and dimensioned to passthrough the end of the cartridge to which the ball dispenser as- 7 8sembly is rotatably mounted and downwardly to the 3,100,315 8/63 Laxalt15558 bottom of the cartridge, and FOREIGN PATENTS (p) passage meanscommunicating between the supply chamber and the ball dispenserassembly. 1,261,214 4/61 France- 5 249,25 3 7/ 12 Germany. ReferencesCited by the Examiner 191,843 Great B i a n.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 597893 9/59 Italy' 132,662,922 10/32 Braselton20656 ROBERT W. MITCHELL, Primary Examiner.

,0 8,1 11/ S h 11 5-17 3,010,138 11,61 gg L595 2 10 WALTER A. scHEE Examr.

3,088,161 5/63 Schaich 15-572

1. A COSMETIC DISPENSER COMPRISING: (A) A HOLLOW CARTRIDGE DEFINING ASUPPLY CHAMBER OPEN AT BOTH ENDS, (B) THE SUPPLY CHAMBER HAVING AUNIFORM CROSSSECTIONAL CONFIGURATION AND DIMENSION ALONG ITSLONGITUDINAL AXIS, (C) A CLOSURE ON EACH OPEN END OF THE CARTRIDGE, ONECLOSURE BEING ROTATABLY MOUNTED TO THE CARTRIDGE, (D) A TRANSPORTPOSITIONED WITHIN THE SUPPLY CHAMBER, (E) A POLYGONAL SHANK ON AN END OFTHE TRANSPORT, (F) THE ROTATABLE CLOSURE HAVING A TRANSVERSE POLYGONALOPENING SHAPED TO CONFORM TO THE SAID SHANK AND DIMENSIONED TO RECEIVEAND SEAT THE SHANK THEREIN, (G) A GENERALLY TRUNCATED, BIFURCATED TIP ONTHE END OF SAID POLYGONAL SHANK, THE TIP BEING RESILIENTLY COMPRESSIBLEFOR PASSAGE THROUGH THE SAID OPENING IN THE ROTATABLE CLOSURE ANDRESILIENTLY EXPANDABLE AFTER PASSAGE THERETHROUGH TO POSITIVELY SECURETHE TRANSPORT AGAINST DISENGAGEMENT FROM THE CLOSURE, (H) A PISTONROTATABLY MOUNTED ON THE TRANSPORT, THE PISTON HAVING A PASSAGEDIMENSIONED TO PASS THE SAID TIP ON THE POLYGONAL SHANK OF THETRANSPORT, (I) THE SAID POLYGONAL SHANK AND TIP FIXEDLY CONNECTING THETRANSPORT TO THE ROTATABLY MOUNTED CLOSURE FOR ROTATION THEREWITH, (J)THE PISTON WHEN MOUNTED ON THE TRANSPORT AND CONNECTED TO THE SAIDROTATABLE CLOSURE BEING SHAPED AND DIMENSIONED TO PASS THROUGH THE ENDOF THE CARTRIDGE TO WHICH SAID CLOSURE IS ROTATABLY MOUNTED. (K)COOPERATIVE MEANS ON THE PISTON AND WITHIN THE SUPPLY CHAMBER SECURINGTHE PISTON TO THE CARTRIDGE FOR ROTATION THEREWITH, THE PISTON MOVINGLONGITUDINALLY WITH THE SUPPLY CHAMBER UPON ROTATION OF THE TRANSPORTWITH RESPECT TO THE CARTRIDGE, (L) A BALL DISPENSER MOUNTED ON ONE ENDOF THE CARTRIDGE, THE BALL DISPENSER DEFINING ONE OF THE AFORESAIDCLOSURES, AND (M) PASSAGE MEANS COMMUNICATING BETWEEN THE SUPPLY CHAMBERAND THE BALL DISPENSER.